Ottawa-born Gudbranson enjoying life in new hockey home

Vancouver Canucks defenceman Erik Gudbranson (44) fights for control of the puck with Calgary Flames centre Lance Bouma (17) during first period NHL action, in Vancouver on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2016.JONATHAN HAYWARD / THE CANADIAN PRESS

VANCOUVER — Facing the Senators for the first time since being dealt to the Vancouver Canucks, Erik Gudbranson was sporting a Redblacks cap Tuesday after the morning skate.

“Hey, I’m still from Ottawa,” said Gudbranson with a smile.

Trading to the Canucks by the Florida Panthers in May, the 24-year-old Gudbranson is still adjusting to life his new home after a deal that not only caught him off guard but also happened while he was on vacation on the other side of the world.

Though social media went crazy when the deal happened, Gudbranson had no idea until a day after it had been announced when he sat down in a hotel lobby in Zimbabwe with former teammate Shawn Matthias.

“The day it happened I was in Namibia,” Gudbranson said. “I was far away from here. I had no service. We were out in Chobe National Park in Namibia and then we took a transfer, we ended up driving through Botswana then to Zimbabwe.

“I got my phone when we got to the hotel, I sat down across from Shawn Matthias and I was just looking (to) text my parents to say, ‘I’m safe’ and he looks at me with his look in his eyes and says, ‘You just got traded.’ I said, ‘No, come on.’ He said, ‘Yeah, you got traded to Vancouver.’ I look at my phone and sure enough there’s 50 text messages and Twitter showed it happened.

“My girlfriend talked to the Canucks for me, talked to my agent, so I was the last guy to find out.”

It caught him off guard after the Panthers made great strides last year but there are no hard feelings.

“I definitely didn’t expect to get traded,” Gudbranson said. “If you asked me at the end of the season I would have said definitely not but I’m a Vancouver Canuck now and I’m very proud to be part of this team.

“It was bittersweet but change is good. I was there through the dark ages and it took me some time to get over it. Once I came around to being a Canuck and wearing blue and green … I haven’t looked back and never look back. I’m very proud to be here.”

He spent the summer in Florida but reported to Vancouver on Sept. 1 so he could get to know the city and his teammates.

“I certainly underestimated what being traded meant when I originally came here. It was a big change,” Gudbranson said. “I say that but everybody has been so welcoming, it’s been a seamless transition moving here but systems-wise and a whole new team and teammates has been good.

“There’s some work but I feel very comfortable here.”

STAYING UP TO DATE

As soon as the final buzzer went Tuesday night at Rogers Arena, Ryan Dzingel planned to go check his phone.

A lifelong Chicago Cub fan, who grew up just outside the city, the Senators forward quickly going to check the final score of Game 1 of the World Series in Cleveland.

Dzingel has been to countless Cubs games at Wrigley Field over the course of his lifetime and even attended five or six this season.

A former baseball player, he is hopeful the Cubs can make the next step.

“It’s going to be tough not to watch but I’ll be checking after the game and hopefully it’s a 4-1 win for the Cubbies,” Dzingel said with a smile after the morning skate. “I was hoping it would be on (later) but with the time change (out west) I’m going to miss it.

“I’ll be able to watch (Game) 2 through 4 after we sweep them so I’m not too worried … Seriously, both are good teams.”

Dzingel, who had a future in baseball before deciding to play hockey at Ohio State University, only became a Cubs fan because his father Rick wasn’t — the latter roots for the Chicago White Sox.

“There’s a little rivalry in the family so I’m excited,” said Dzingel. “My dad knows everything about baseball so I like to argue with him and have some fun. I think I was a Cubs fan just to mix it up a bit.”

THE LAST WORDS

Vancouver coach Willie Desjardins worked with Ottawa coach Guy Boucher on the Canadian world junior staff in 2009 when the tournament was held at the Canadian Tire Centre. Both were assistants to the late Pat Quinn when Canada won gold. “(Boucher is) a great guy to work with,” said Desjardins. “He’s a smart man. He’s very intense. I like him a lot. His power plays are always good. He’s innovative and he’ll think of different ways to play the game. He plays to win. His teams will always compete.” … The only change Ottawa made was inserting winger Matt Puempel into the lineup so defenceman Thomas Chabot sat for the third straight game. He’ll likely be sent back to junior at some point but the Senators like the opportunity he’s getting here to develop and learn with pros.

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